Rescuers attempt body recovery from Queensland crash

BRISBANE - Emergency crews were today attempting to recover the bodies of 15 people killed in one of Australia's worst plane crashes. 

Everyone aboard the Fairchild Metroliner 3 aircraft died when it crashed and exploded in flames on Saturday near the Lockhart River Aboriginal community in Cape York, in far north Queensland. 

The plane smacked into a 500m high, tree covered hillside on approach to Lockhart River airstrip on a flight from Bamaga at the tip of Cape York.  

Although there was rain, low cloud and strong wind at the time, the two pilots had not reported problems. Investigators said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash.  

Queensland Police Superintendent Mike Keating said investigators would make their way to the crash site today to attempt to recover the bodies.  

It would however depend on the weather, he said.  

"They (rescue efforts) will involve a continuation of what will be a complicated and delayed process for recovery of the bodies and also the further investigation of the circumstances of the accident," Mr Keating said.  

"It's rainforest, it's going to take a while. It's very difficult, it's very steep, it's very hot and when the rain comes it's very wet."  

Officers have begun to cut trees down adjacent to the wreckage site to allow a helicopter to winch the bodies out. 

Mr Keating said fallen trees knocked down by the crashing plane made the operation even more difficult and hazardous.  

"We want people to appreciate at this stage the safety of those people involved in the recovery is the most important thing," he said. 

The aircraft's flight recorder has been recovered and will be taken to Canberra for analysis. 

Air Transport Safety Bureau deputy director of air safety investigation Alan Stray said a team would be onsite again tomorrow to "start the work of going piece by piece through the wreckage to try to establish what happened". 

"But we're hopeful the recorders will hold the key to some of this mystery," Mr Stray said.  

- AAP